The Chargers punted nine times in the first half, and one of those Mike Scifres efforts was blocked, setting up the hosts’ second-quarter touchdown. That’s two blocked punts the past two games.

Manning meanwhile missed wide open receivers. The score could have been much worse than 17-7 at the break, but there never was a real feeling _ even after the offense and Rivers picked up some second-half rhythm _ that they could win the game. There are just too many times when they can’t find their rear ends with both hands _ or anyone else’s hands.

This one can’t be blamed on the defense, which certainly has played well enough to win the past two weeks. Manning was sacked three times _ twice by rookie defensive lineman Kendall Reyes _ and once by linebacker Shaun Philips, who got to Peyton in the end zone for a safety.

But there were stupid penalties, false starts and neutral zone infractions. Twice Rivers couldn’t get the snap in time and avoid delay of game.

“These things happen,” Norv said. “I’d like them not to happen.”

And here I always thought coaching was about teaching and discipline. I don’t know what’s going through Norv’s brain now that he’s obviously a short-timer (unless, as we’ve said, The Vatican gets to work). But it’s unusual for him not to find something to do well on offense.

“Denver took away a lot of what we tried to do,” he said. “We had trouble getting the run going, we had trouble protecting and we had trouble getting open.”

Well, thanks, Norv, in 17 words, you summed up a game for me.

“We had a lot of moving parts,” he said.

True. Vasquez and Green went down (meaning no extra O linemen were left), corner Quentin Jammer injured his calf and receiver Eddie Royal once again aggravated his hamstring. But Denver lost players, too. Top tailback Willis McGahee went out as did corner Omar Bolden.